Any roadway with a good tailwind (southbound Pacific Coast Highway from Oceanside south most afternoons);

Any roadway with a good downhill (Palomar Mountain).

-- Peter Pountney

All right, let’s get right to it.

Below are many of the responses that I received on nominations for the best and worst roads to bicycle in San Diego County. If you know me, then you know that no scientific principles were harmed in the construction of these lists. I was going to go with Top10 lists but who am I to draw up such a thing and for whom would it be a Top 10?

There are people out here who ENJOY riding on Rosecranz. I make no distinctions here but you can glean from some of the text how adept a rider a writer might be.

They are what they are, the suggestions of readers. I’m sure they are from bike riders of all skill levels and proclivities.

Let’s go with the worst first. (If you’d like to pile on, use the reader’s comments section at the bottom.)

HELL ON WHEELS or WHAT THE BLEEP!

Harbor Drive – Pacific Highway

“Harbor Drive. This should be one of our jewels: it encircles most of the bay. The condition of the road and shoulder from Civic Center Drive in National City all the way to the Northern terminus in Point Loma is either filled with potholes, dirt shoulders, crevassed concrete (South and North ends) or a patchwork of mostly bike-unfriendly congested blacktop and pedestrian paths from the Convention Center to NTC.

Pacific Highway, Part II

“I'm mainly a recreational cyclist so there are probably plenty of roads far more harrowing and far more spectacular than what I have encountered. That said, the worst stretch of road in my book is southbound Pacific Highway as it goes thru that little "tunnel" then you have to ride uphill while 40+mph traffic from Barnett Ave suddenly appears on your right. You find yourself in lane 2 of what quickly becomes a 4-lane highway, desperately trying to figure out how to merge right a couple lanes while motorists are looking at you like ‘Where the heck did you come from?’ (But at least they see you.)” -- Gale Chan

Another for Harbor Drive

“By far: Harbor Drive in front of the ship yard, headed north(ish) into downtown. Train tracks, pot holes, uneven pavement, zombie yard workers jay walking in front of you, fuel trucks, cars skirting the trolley tracks...OH, and Trolley Cars running their own lights. They've paved some of it, but not all. Kathy Keehan, former San Diego County Bicycle Coalition director, worked on getting it fixed, but it apparently didn't work that well. Ten years I've been commuting, 10 years that road has been ... just this side of horrible.

“Second: perhaps Broadway through downtown.” -- William Karstens

Harbor = hellish

“No.1 Hellish Road: E Harbor Drive/Harbor Drive, northbound from 32nd Street to the bridge prior to the Convention Center. I'm training for Race Across America next year and I do long rides north to Orange County and back down to the border and around and up the Strand. That one stretch of road is the worst in the whole 100 mile loop. – Mike Wilson

No going half way on Midway

“Midway is probably the worst road near home (OB). Narrow outside lane, rutted from frequent bus traffic, with many driveways to create turning and cross traffic conflicts. As many writers mentioned, it’s the interchanges and intersections that are the worst problems, and as you know, it doesn’t get much worse than the intersections of Midway, Rosecrans and Sports Arena Boulevard.” -- Stephan Vance, Ocean Beach

India Street still debatable

“India Street, from Hawthorn to Washington, is awful. Going north one way from Hawthorn, you first have to enter a too dark undercrossing of I-5, then go up a steep incline only to be faced with traffic exiting at high speed from I-5 on your right. The three lanes of one way traffic on India encourage speeds that are way too fast, and the outside lane is just wide enough to encourage drivers to pass without changing lanes. Three lanes is more capacity than is needed.

"You may recall this stretch of road was the subject of considerable debate when the City of San Diego was proposing to take out some parking to make room for bike lanes. Doing whatever it takes to slow down the drivers is what really is needed. Then the city could use a combination of bike lanes and sharrows to make a better street for bicycling.” -- Stephan Vance, Ocean Beach

Mira Mesa nightmare rides

“Mesa Mesa Boulevard westbound between Scranton and Sorrento Valley Road. Three lanes of high-speed traffic peel right onto the I-805 freeway. If you stay in the middle of the #2 lane, you get honked and yelled at. If you stay right and later try to dart across 3 lanes of 50mph traffic -- you are honked at and could be killed.

"Mira Mesa Boulevard eastbound between New Salem and Greenford. The bike lane disappears and you are left sharing a narrow lane with people who pass too close. If you take the lane (ride down the middle because it is too narrow to share) you are left sharing a narrow lane with very angry people who STILL pass too close. On one occasion I was followed by a truck semi blasting his horn at me. The remarkable thing? We weren't even moving, due to heavy traffic. There was no possible way I could be impeding him.

“ Gold Coast, either direction. What? This is one of the supposedly bike friendly streets. Let me explain. This road is used by auto commuters looking to avoid the lights and traffic of Mira Mesa Blvd. Consequently they are very impatient and going too fast. The on-street parking renders the travel lane too narrow to share. If you "stay out of the way" and ride to the right, you are riding in the door zone and could slam into an opening car door at any moment. If you get "in the way" and ride just to the left of the door zone, you are honked at, screamed at, and passed too close. I had someone brush me with their mirror the other day, as they were trying to pass me but there was oncoming traffic. Sometimes you get the ones that are afraid to change lanes (it's a double-yellow stripe) and they will camp behind you, honking, seething, and generally trying to make your life unpleasant until the next intersection. -- Elaine Litchfield, 34, of Mira Mesa commutes 4-5 days a week to Sorrento Valley.

Kearney Villa Road gets another vote:

“For me, without question, it's Kearny Villa Road heading south from Miramar Road – aside from the high speed of traffic, the road debris, the roadkill, exits/onramps and standing water there is the part of the "journey" when the road opens up to three lanes to allow motorists to merge onto the 163 south.

" Traffic typically moves at well over 50 mph in this section and at that speed the motorists are on top of you before they really see you out in the lane. If you are familiar with that stretch of road you'll remember a cyclists has to stay straight to continue south on Kearny Villa – putting the cyclist(s) in the middle lane for a couple of hundred yards before having to contend with the intersection where the cyclist may encounter motorists traveling north on Kearny Villa making left hand turns to get to the 163 south onramp and other motorists merging onto Kearny Villa south from the right after existing 163 south.

"The road surface in this section has always been horrible and full of gravel and glass, but you dare not cast your eyes toward the ground too long out of fear of being run over.

“To the city's credit signs have been posted and portions of the bike lane have been re-paved/painted making the quality of the ride (especially in a pack at 25 mph+) better , but the speed, volume and type of traffic on that road have to put it in the top 10.” -- Michael Wahlster

Larry Hogue’s worst list:

"Just about anywhere a road crosses a freeway, particularly the kind with high-speed merges and diverges. These are the subject of the “advanced” Traffic Skills 201 course the bike coalition offers."

Morena Boulevard at I-8

Both Clairemont Mesa Boulevard and Balboa Avenue at I-805

I never ride it, but I hear Fairmount at I-8 is particularly bad

East Mission Bay Drive in the 4 or 5 blocks between the Grand and Garnet off-ramp/on ramps to I-5 (there’s a parallel bike path along Rose Creek, but it has its own problems)

I hear they’re fixing Pacific Highway/Barnett, which used to be pretty difficult going southbound.

– Larry Hogue

Mission Bay fringe madness

“As far as the best and worst roads, there is a category of road, several which exist in San Diego that are the worst. They are the ones where, as a cyclist, you are dumped into several lanes of fast traffic and have to either ride up the middle of a semi-freeway or cross over completely.

“It's always prayer time.

“An example is coming out of Mission Bay on the north end and wanting to turn right to the light, make a left leading up to Mission Bay Drive, then being forced to cross over three lanes, from left to right, as drivers come off the freeway onto Mission Bay Drive. That's the usual route if you want to continue onto Santa Fe then up Rose Canyon bike trail. Otherwise you have to go around the golf course on the bike path which takes you back to the same intersection where you have to go across four lanes of traffic to get into the left-hand turn lane.

“I'm a very capable bike rider but it really gives me the willies to have to take those kinds of chances. And how many riders on a weekend want to go north through Mission Bay then up Rose Canyon? Lots, and everyone has to run either one gauntlet or the other.” – Gary DeVoss, founder of Cyclo-Vets master's club

Hell on two wheels (or, La Jolla has its faults):

“La Jolla ANY TIME of the day or night. No bike lanes on Ardath Road into town. Cars not paying ANY attention to cyclists. Multiple high speed turns with signals and lots of out-of-towners.

"Can I ride my bike through there?? Sure! Do I willingly do so? Nope. There are several other, less detrimental paths to take to the same destination.” – Diane Brown

Robert Wade’s least favorites in Central San Diego:

“Friars over the SR 163 freeway is a completely disaster -- the high-speed merges make it very difficult for all but the must bold and visible of cyclists.

“The 1st Avenue bridge over the 5-freeway is very dangerous for cyclists, with the two right lanes leading to high-speed merges onto the south-bound 5-freeway. The only safe passage is to take the second-most-rightward lane, which will lead to honks from impatient drivers behind who don't understand why you're not hugging the curb ‘where bikes should be.’

Bachman Place is the only way to get from Central Mission Valley (Fashion Valley Area/Hazard Center Area) up to Hillcrest; it's a relatively low-traffic, but the rider cannot help riding in the door zone to avoid impatient, high-speed traffic proceeding up the hill often less than a foot away from cyclists at 30-45 mph”

”You'll get this one a lot, but Pacific Highway between Midway and Washington ... let me just say that I feel sorry for any cyclist on that road: 55mph+ traffic merging from right to left and left to right just as you're making your turn onto Pacific Highway.”

North County road angst:

“North River Road from the Oceanside City Limits (near State Route 76) to Stallion (where it widens) Why? Narrow lanes (not shareable), little or no shoulder, lots of traffic, including many 18-wheelers, a 50 mph speed limit, a double-yellow line with very tightly spaced BOTS dots that motorists are reluctant to hit, and a roadway surface that is ‘alligatored’ and potholed.

“Other candidates for worst include most of the overpasses and underpasses for SR 78 and I-5 in North County.” -- Pete Penseyres

More North County road angst:

“One of my least favorite streets to ride is Lake Wohlford Road, from the intersection with Valley Center Road (S6) on the south end, to the inn at the lake. Not until driving through to Palomar Mountain on this route in the car did I begin to experience the certain presence of the Grim Reaper in my draft as I ascended the steep hills and blind curves that are the most harrowing aspects of this path. I have never, and probably never will, descend this beast on the bike.

“The only comparable frightening ride I can recall was on Topanga Canyon Road, north of Santa Monica from the PCH up to the summit on a Saturday night after dark. Bone-chilling.” -- Ed Shepherd

Julie Hamilton’s Least Favorite:

Fairmount Avenue - very important link to anyone riding west from El Cajon or La Mesa, the bike bridge over the I-8 on ramp dumps you on to the side of the road in the dark with no where to go.

Camino De La Reina under 163, its dark with rough pavement. A year or two ago the City repaved the road to the fog lines, but left the bike lanes in their former crummy condition.

Kearny Villa Road - bike lanes are erratic, sometimes they take you up and across the ramps and sometimes they don't. This is a key link for riders traveling north and south, the bike lanes should be a very high priority and should have a clear, clean path to provide a safe route for bicyclists.

THE GOOD STUFF: SOME PIECES OF HEAVEN

Urban San Diego

“New on my list of good streets is the stretch of Congress and San Diego Avenue with its newly pointed sharrows and bike lanes from Old Town to Washington—almost. The last block between Pringle and Washington becomes one-way against you if you are going south. “ -- Stephan Vance, Ocean Beach

La Jolla area

“La Jolla Boulevard through Bird Rock is a great example of how a street can be remade into a complete street that serves everyone. Just ask the merchants.” -- Stephan Vance, Ocean Beach

Larry Hogue’s favorites:

Torrey Pines Road/Highway 101 from Torrey Pines State Park to Del Mar – one of the best cycling views in the country.

Pretty much all of northbound Highway 101 between Del Mar and Carlsbad for same reason, plus beach culture (southbound gets a little dicey with the parked cars and lack of a bike lane).

Catalina south of Canon to the National Monument – scenery, usually quiet riding

East Mission Bay Dr. next to the bay, especially in the middle of a weekday.

Voigt Drive over I-5 – because it’s one of the few freeway crossings where you don’t have cars merging all around you (no off-ramps or on-ramps)

It’s not a road, but the bike path along State Route 56 is great.

– Larry Hogue

Robert Wade’s Favorites in Central San Diego:

“4th and 5th from Washington in Hillcrest is a very comfortable ride -- very wide lanes and relatively low speeds. In fact, almost all of Hillcrest is a very pleasant ride.

"Camino de la Reina between Mission Center, past the UT offices, and to the I-8-freeway is very comfortable, with very low traffic during the weekday commute and wide lanes.”

Heaven on two wheels:

" Camino Del Rio North, west of Mission Gorge, just before sunrise. Lots of bunnies on the street, very few cars. Pitch black except for my light. Silent except for the click of my derailleur and the sound of my tires on the road.

" Anywhere in Sorrento Mesa on an early Sunday morning. Lots of 4-lane roads with no cars. Nice rolling hills and bike lanes. Signals that have loops that still work for cyclists. Very few potholes and a lot of well-banked turns for flat out riding.” – Diane Brown

North County scenic:

“Couser Canyon between Lilac and State Route 76. Why? The northbound descent toward SR 76 has the nicest set of S-turns in the county, good road surface, and very little motor traffic.” -- Pete Penseyres

More North County scenic:

“”My favorite stretch of road is San Dieguito Road between El Camino Real and El Apajo -- the road itself is in good condition, it's scenic, it's flat, plenty of room for everyone, no one's in a hurry anyway.

“And, as a bonus, I've also selected a road that qualifies as best and worst at the same time: Highland Valley Road. Truly stunning scenery is what qualifies it for best. Narrow, twisty, some REALLY steep sections, and occasional unfriendly motorists who despise cyclists are what make it’"worst’.” –Gale Chan

Julie Hamilton’s Most Favorite:

"Junipero Serra Trail through Mission Trails Park. Even though I like to go fast and multiple use paths require slower speeds, this is a beautiful ride. Well worth giving up the speed to ride through the park.

"Coast Highway from Torrey Pines to Oceanside. Always a bit of a risk with the traffic and cars parked along the road; but every time I ride Coast Highway I cannot believe how fortunate I am to live in San Diego."